Strictly Business

On today’s episode, in our Box Office segment, Variety’s Brent Lang breaks down the numbers and a second-weekend sigh of relief at Amazon MGM Studios as “Project Hail Mary” hangs in at No. 1. And Michael Schneider speaks to daytime TV soap mogul Bradley Bell, the writer-producer who has launched a subscription app for diehard fans of CBS’ “The Bold and the Beautiful.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, “Strictly Business” speaks with “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette” executive producers Brad Simpson and Nina Jacobson about the Ryan Murphy-FX drama that examines how a fairy-tale romance collided with the fearsome power of fame. The partners in the Color Force film and TV banner also assess the health of the film and TV sales marketplace, and the pair are frank about why they support the Producers United campaign.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, Variety’s Todd Spangler and Gene Maddaus examine why OpenAI abruptly pulled the plug on its generative AI video creation model, Sora, and why Disney insiders are relieved that the Mouse House's character licensing deal with Sora has gone away, as has Disney's plan to invest $1 billion in OpenAI. Maddaus and Spangler explain what just happened -- and why SAG-AFTRA deserves to take a victory lap.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, we’re talking “Star Trek” and its future with Variety’s Joe Otterson. He broke the news that Paramount+’s “Starfleet Academy” will end after just two seasons and showrunner Alex Kurtzman is likely to pass the baton as the creative steward of the franchise for TV. Otterson unpacks what’s next for the beloved space opera in TV and film.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, Variety’s Kate Aurthur details the 21-year, three-season journey that Lisa Kudrow and Michael Patrick King have been on with “The Comeback” as the offbeat comedy takes its final lap on HBO.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, in our Box Office segment, Variety's Brent Lang breaks down a big opening weekend for Amazon MGM Studios and its Ryan Gosling fantasy vehicle “Project Hail Mary.” And Naman Ramachandran reports on the mood at Hong Kong Filmart, where AI and China dominate the conversation among top Asian producers, distributors and talent.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tommy Harper, founder and CEO of VU and veteran producer of vertical microdramas, and Juanjo Duran, Google’s Global Head of Media and Entertainment Content Partnerships, share fast-moving tales about integrating vertical microdramas into streaming. They cover discovery tools, production speed versus traditional TV, talent incubation, and how platforms can scale short-form stories for TV and film.

Ethan Schanfeld, an entertainment reporter for Variety, shares his cover story on Miley Cyrus reclaiming her Hannah Montana legacy. He recounts reporting the profile, the Y2K nostalgia at the Disney Plus taping, Miley’s sobriety and steadiness, and conversations about touring, therapy, stage fright recovery, and Super Bowl Halftime speculation.

Jack Dunn, Variety reporter and film journalist, gives a quick take on Tim Heidecker’s On Cinema at the Cinema and its devoted Gen Z cinephile following. He explains the show’s parody roots, its unusual in‑universe storytelling, and why a live tour and Hi Network move matter. Also touches on Zendaya’s red carpet moment and a tease about Euphoria’s next season.

Nancy Grace, former prosecutor turned TV host and true crime commentator, discusses the Corey/Kouri Richins case. Short segments cover comedy-meets-true-crime shows, ethics and responsibilities in production, why fans crave true crime, and the challenges of reporting celebrity cases and building trust with contributors.